The Los Angeles Lakers Encyclopedia

About the Book

Against the backdrop of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, California, the Los Angeles Lakers have become not only one of professional basketball’s most treasured gems, but an internationally-renowned sports icon. With the wizardry of players who require only one name—Elgin, West, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, Kobe—the Lakers grew from a promising Midwestern team starting afresh in the City of Angels and becoming one of the most successful corporate giants in the history of athletic competition.
This definitive encyclopedia of the Lakers provides all vital data pertaining to each season of the team’s first 50 years in Los Angeles, including biographies of Hall of Famers, other great performers, and coaches; complete rosters; season-by-season schedules and statistics; draft picks; and records and individual accomplishments.

About the Author(s)

Richard J. Shmelter is a writer and researcher specializing in sports history, American crime during the Prohibition era, and Hollywood history. A member of the International Association of Crime Writers, the American Crime Writers League, and the Professional Football Researchers Association, he is the author of five previous books and lives in Sagamore Hills, Ohio.